Andrea Yates was found NOT GUILTY by reason of insanity moments ago. She drowned her 5 children a few years ago in their familys bath tub. I think it's crap; just a little depressed over it, thought I'd find out what you think...
2006-07-26 06:18:53 · 13 answers · asked by Brian G 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
No, but I understand your frustration because my wife and I have discussed this in length. She said she was guilty and I thought Yates had mental issues. I do believe either way her husband got off Scott free and that bothers me. You can only hope the jury made the right decision but I can't tell you one way or the other.
2006-07-26 06:40:02 · answer #1 · answered by Thomas S 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
First, you seem to forget the very, very basic fact that a crime requires both a criminal act and criminal intention. If intention did not matter, then the drivers in a fatal car accident should be punished as murderers, even though they did not intend for anyone to get hurt. You would probably not support that, unless you're criminally insane yourself.
Second, an acquittal on the basis of insanity means that the accused was no more able to form the criminal intention than if they had been sleepwalking or if someone had drugged them without their knowledge. The plea usually requires the defendant to submit to being committed indefinitely to an insane asylum, which is no resort vacation. Often, the result is a lifetime of confinement for a crime that would have only carried a sentence of a few years in jail. That is hardly a victory for the defendant.
Finally, it is just incredibly presumptious for someone like you, who is obviously ignorant of the basics of the law, to be second-guessing the decision of jurors who sat there for days, hearing both sides of the arguments, and reached a decision as a group. You are an arrogant fool to believe that you know better than any of the people who actually heard evidence, listened to real psychologists on both sides of the question, and reached a consensus within the jury on how it should come out. Considering all the things you are clearly ignorant about (law, psychology, etc.), it is amazing that you are still so stuck on yourself that you would offer your "expert" opinion on such questions. You should try reading more books and having fewer opinions.
I hope to God you hurt someone accidentally someday but find yourself charged with doing it intentionally. That might be the only way for someone like you to learn.
2006-07-26 13:35:42 · answer #2 · answered by BoredBookworm 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
have you ever heard of post partum depression?
That woman was begging for help and got zilch. Her husband should have been on trial with her, but he looked too stupid to even figure out how not to have more kids. Her doctor told her and her husband that she shouldn't have any more kids because she had the same problem after the 4th one.
Post partum depression isn't just feeling a little blue. It's falling into a deep dark pit and not seeing any way out.
2006-07-26 13:21:50 · answer #3 · answered by Nosy Parker 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh my, did someone actually chalk this up as PPD? You do not drown all five of your children because of PPD.
I think her husband ought to be tried, actually. She was on meds and told not to have any more children because she had severe depression and was likely to harm herself or her children (she'd tried to kill herself before, too), but he insisted on taking her off the meds and then she got pregnant again. He KNEW she was wacked and left her in charge of his children. Isn't that reckless endangerment or child neglect or something?
I agree she was nuts, but like someone else said, I'm not sure that means she's not guilty.
2006-07-26 13:28:47 · answer #4 · answered by Liz F 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i spent 6 years 3 months in Texas prison, never been to the nuthouse but I do know some people who worked there, and I would much rather be in the pen without question. If your NOT crazy when you go in, you will be by the time you get out. If you get out
2006-07-26 13:26:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, along with the court trying to force a sixteen year old to take more chemo, and indicting his parents. When they were taking him to a foreign clinic with a darn good success rate for cancer treatment.
2006-07-26 13:54:58 · answer #6 · answered by midnightdealer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
she of course will be locked up for the rest of her life. Her punishment is living. God I hope she remembers, and remembers everything to the last breath of those children.
2006-07-26 13:28:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think it is just another step. With the way we're stepping lately, we should be there any time now . . .
2006-07-27 10:05:57 · answer #8 · answered by Jayna 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, I totally agree with you, but there's gotta be another reason why she was aquitted.
2006-07-26 13:23:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most religious people should be in mental institutuions.
2006-07-26 13:22:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋